The
Octave Day of Easter, sometimes known as
Low Sunday (and also known historically as
St. Thomas Sunday and
Quasimodo Sunday), is the Sunday after
Easter Sunday. Since 1970 Low Sunday has been officially known as the
Second Sunday of Easter (referring to the Easter season) in the
Catholic Church. On
April 30, 2000, it was also designated as
Divine Mercy Sunday by
Pope John Paul II.
Among Eastern Christians the day is known as Thomas Sunday.
Prior to the 1970 this day was called Low Sunday. It was sometimes said that the name derives from its relative unimportance compared to the solemnities of Easter Day, but it is possible that "low" is a corruption of the Latin word Laudes, the first word of the Sequence of the day "Laudes Salvatori voce modulemur supplici" (Let us sing praises to the Savior with humble voice). Laudes means "praises".
Traditionally, the newly-baptised would receive baptismal gowns that would be worn until this day, and the official Latin name is Dominica in Albis [Depositis], "Sunday in [Setting Aside the] White Garments". Hence "White" and "Alb" Sunday—which is also the etymology of Whitsunday (Pentecost).
